Sondheim Commercials - 1970s
Sondheim Commercials - 1970s
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#1Sondheim Commercials - 1970s
Posted: 12/4/14 at 10:25am
For those who lived in and around NYC in the 1970s and 80s, you know that Broadway tv commercials were a big thing. A Chorus Line, Pippin, Evita, Cats were all run in heavy rotation.
But I don't remember any Sondheim commercials. Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd. Were there any Sondheim commercials?
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#2Sondheim Commercials - 1970s
Posted: 12/4/14 at 11:20am
Here are two for Sweeney Todd (one for Broadway, one for the tour):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90vBH847AD4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dgdz-XifyU
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Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#2Sondheim Commercials - 1970s
Posted: 12/4/14 at 12:33pmThanks James2 for finding these. I really enjoy looking at all of these commercials. They are great time capsules of the American Musical Theater.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#3Sondheim Commercials - 1970s
Posted: 12/4/14 at 3:43pmSweeney Todd's such a well known and beloved property now, but I do wonder how that national tour commercial was viewed in the early 80s. For anyone completely unaware of the show it must have looked like utter madness.
#4Sondheim Commercials - 1970s
Posted: 12/4/14 at 3:45pmThe first show, to my knowledge, to use a TV commercial was PIPPIN. I gather than that the first three Sondheim-Prince collaborations were not given the TV commercial treatment, and I don't think PACIFIC OVERTURES probably ran long enough, so SWEENEY TODD had to be the first. INTO THE WOODS also had a nice little spot available on YouTube.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#5Sondheim Commercials - 1970s
Posted: 12/4/14 at 4:40pm
"The first show, to my knowledge, to use a TV commercial was PIPPIN."
Which I find very fascinating. All through the 1950s and 60s, nobody thought that running a tv commercial was profitable? Was Ed Sullivan the only one that had the foresight to "advertise" Broadway?
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#6Sondheim Commercials - 1970s
Posted: 12/4/14 at 4:52pmI feel like I've seen an interview with Nancy Coyne (of Serino/Coyne) discussing this topic, Goth. I believe, at the time, radio was still seen as a more impactful and effective way to reach potential audiences. But, I agree, it is odd that it took THAT long for anyone to realize the value in tv advertising.
#7Sondheim Commercials - 1970s
Posted: 12/4/14 at 5:16pmThough they weren't commercials as such, Broadway performers often appeared on Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas to do a number or two from the show. My very first exposure to FOLLIES was seeing Sondheim with Yvonne, Alexis and Dorothy (I think) performing some numbers (including "Foxtrot") around the grand piano. It was NOT enough of a draw to get this 16-year-old to pester his folks for tickets however.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#8Sondheim Commercials - 1970s
Posted: 12/4/14 at 5:28pm
Perhaps the producers thought that the cost of cutting a commercial was too high? (Does anyone know when the Tony Awards started broadcasting production numbers?)
These commercials were part of my childhood experience and helped to foster an appreciation for the theater.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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